Framber Valdez’s Free Agency Finally Heating Up - With New Suitors Emerging
For much of the offseason, Framber Valdez’s free agency has been stuck in neutral. The Houston Astros made it clear early they weren’t planning to bring him back, despite a rotation that’s clearly in need of reinforcements.
Instead, they pivoted to international right-hander Tatsuya Imai and depth arm Mike Burrows to support a young core led by Hunter Brown. But now, after months of relative silence, the market for Valdez is finally showing signs of life.
According to Ken Rosenthal, interest in the two-time All-Star is picking up, and two new teams have jumped into the mix: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Yes, the Pirates.
While Toronto’s involvement isn’t entirely surprising given their ongoing search for rotation upgrades, Pittsburgh making a strong push for Valdez is a notable development. Rosenthal reports the Pirates have emerged as “one of the most aggressive” teams in the chase, signaling a potential shift in approach from a franchise that’s typically been cautious with big-ticket free agents.
Valdez, 32, isn’t just another arm on the market - he’s been a workhorse and a proven postseason performer. In eight seasons with Houston, he’s racked up 81 wins, a 3.36 ERA, and 1,053 strikeouts.
His 18.9 career bWAR and 124 ERA+ speak to a pitcher who’s been consistently above league average, and his nine complete games show he’s not afraid to go deep into outings - a rarity in today’s game. He was instrumental in the Astros' 2022 World Series title run, and his durability has been a hallmark of his game.
Despite that résumé, Valdez’s free agency has stretched longer than expected. While some of that may be tied to contract expectations, it’s also a reflection of how unpredictable the pitching market has been this winter. As teams waited out the top-tier names, Valdez lingered in that second wave - a frontline-caliber arm still waiting for the right fit.
Now, with Spring Training on the horizon, the urgency is picking up. Along with the Pirates and Blue Jays, Valdez has also been linked to the Padres, Braves, and Orioles - all clubs with postseason aspirations and a need for rotation depth.
For the Astros, Valdez’s departure has felt inevitable for weeks. They’ve already begun reshaping their staff without him, and while his exit will leave a clear void, it’s one they’ve apparently accepted as part of their offseason strategy.
The question now is where Valdez lands - and how soon. He may not get the blockbuster deal some expected at the start of the offseason, but make no mistake: he’s still going to command a strong contract. Teams don’t find left-handed starters with his track record and postseason experience on the open market every day.
With momentum building and multiple contenders circling, it looks like we’re finally nearing the end of Valdez’s free agency saga. And wherever he ends up, he’s poised to be a major addition.